Surgical splint



pl'i 2.2, 1930. R, D. FOULKE 1,755,641Y

` SURGICAL SPLINT Filed June's. 192s Frf.

INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS.

Patented Apr.l 22, 193) r vsra'r PATENT o'FFifcl-:i

if ROY n.v IOULKE, oF wnasAw/rixmrA-NA, AssIeNoR l'ro WINIFRED DE PUY i'aizrrnlty sortaient srLrNr Applicaton'iledl'lune 8,'1928. Serial No. 283,843. l

This invention relates to improvements' in sur'gical'` splints of'thatclass employed vfor' sustaining lthe `clavicle, when ireadjusted to normal position vfollowing fracturethereof. Y

The obj ect of the invention is to provide an anchorageapplicable to the backof thepa-vr tien't'ffor sustainingaXillary straps, 'and nieafns in'con'nection therewith whereby said straps mayfbe'adjustably drawn toward each mothery and at the same time elevated in their positions relative to the anchor.A VAnother object ofthe invention is'to provide an' ap pliance' of its class soconstructed that'when applied to the back of the patient, and the 'eaxilla straps are attached,"an elevating force willA be 'exerted with respect to the clavicle, and vin this manner sustain the clavicle in its normal posture.

A These obj ects are accom lished by thecon-V ,Z3- struction illustrated in At e accompany-ing drawings,in which *Figs 1 is a rear View of the appliance applied tothe patient; l y l-VlligQ-Q is a side elevation of one of the axilla 25 straps and pad in connection therewith;

Fig 3 -is-a vertical section of the appliance ongthe line 3-3 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 4 is a rear elevation of the anchor memberr* 301, Fi'gji's a side .elevation projected from Fig. 4; f Fig. 6 is a fragmentary rear view of the anchor member; and

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary perspective view @5 3 showing one end of the leash-strap.

The characters appearing in the description refer to parts shown in the drawings and designated thereon by corresponding characters.A

93; The invention is comprised of a T-frame formed of a horizontally disposed plate 1 which is stiffened by a longitudinal rib 2,

which plate has rigidlyfixed in connection therewith a vertically disposed prop conhg-sisting of overlapping plates 3 and 4 adjustably secured together by bolts 5, each of which is provided with a thumb-nut 6, there being a series of perforations 7 in the plate 4 so spaced as to admit of the plate being apfflgplied to said bolts adjustably relative to the plate 3.-'f1n each end portion oft-he crossf plate lare made twoparallel slots 8 and 9 that slant upwardly toward the fvertical center line of the plate.v yThe plate 1 is pref-F erably made of metalof sufficientthicknessA andv stiffness as to be inflexibleunder ordinary usage, while the overlapping lplates-z3v and 4 are also of metal but are sufliciently thinE and resilient as to admit; of leXure of'said plates upon forward and backward bending* movement ofthe patient'.

Upon the 7forward-face .of the`plate v1 is secured al padvlO of felt, or otherfs'oi't material, and -a strip of similar'material'isfat tached to the forward fa'cegofthe plate 3- and extendsbeyond the end of'the plate 4, which strip forms a pad llfor'thek prop composed 1 i of the connectedplates 3 and 14. The pads aref secured respectivelyto the platestl and 3-bymeans of a thread12 that is strung through perforations 13 made in said plates andy connected to said pads, whereby the pads are heldin place,l Y

vExtending throughthe` slots "8 andy 9' fin* each end portion of the cross-plate 1 isdisposed; an A*anchor 'strapy 14 having in connection with each ofits ends a corresponding buckle15-16`,the.end portion of the strap to 1 which thebuckle 16 is' secured extends loosely through*V the buckle 1'5and overlaps that end ofthe strap "to which the latter buckle is secured f l i ,Af leash strap formed of two partsfland 18-connected together by a buckle 19 con: nects the straps 14jand extends across the back'- of the cross-plate 1,l each part' of said leash Strap havingqat-itsouter end a loop-201that encompassesth'eoverlappingvendsof thencorresponding'anchor, strap 14, so that when the part 18 ofthe leash strap is tightened'throu'ghf the buckle'v 19, the anchor straps are drawn toward each otherfand guided .upwardly .in the inclined slots. v 'v' The lower end' of the plate 4 has attached thereto a belt 21 that is applied to the patient and secured around the* abdomen whereby the T-frameis held from slipping Aupwardly upon the body lof the patient. An aXilla strap 22 is arranged in 'connectionwitli each anchor strap, the ends of said axilla strap being secured by the buckles l5 and 16, there being a pad 23 sewed to the Y' underside of the middle portion of said axilla cross plate and prop facing outwardly, and.

with the cross Apiece overlying the scapula,

the lower plate 4 of the prop being adjusted upon the plate 3 to apoint above the Sacrum where itis secured by tightening the belt 2l about Vthe patient. The axillary straps-are then applied with their pads 23 extending over the shoulders of the patient, and with the ends of said straps extending through and secured by the buckles of the corresponding anchor straps. By drawing the axillary straps Atightly into secured connection with the anchor straps, the patients shoulders are drawn backwardly against the cross plate,

and by tightening the leash strap, the anchor straps 'are drawn inwardly and upwardly so that a corresponding lifting force is thereby applied to the shoulders of the patient. In

this mannerthe patient is relieved of that depression that usually accompanies the tendency'of the body to sag-forward and downwardly. V

`1. In a clavicle splint, a T-frame formed of a horizontally disposed non-liexible plate and a iiexible vertically disposed prop in connect-ion therewith consisting of overlapping plates secured together and being longitudinally adjustable relative to each' other; an abdominal belt secured to the lower end of said prop, said horizontal plate having in each end portion thereof parallel slots that slant upwardly toward the vertical center Vline of said plate; an anchor strap extending through the slots in each end portion of said plate, the ends of said strap overlapping each other and being provided with corresponding buckles; an adjustable leashstrap connecting said anchor straps, each end of said leash being provided withl a loop that encompasses the overlapping ends of the 'cor-V responding anchor straps; and a padded axillary strap in connectionwith each anchor strap, the ends of which axillary strap haveV engagement with the bucklesl of the corresponding anchor strap respectively.

2. A clavicle splint comprising a T-frame having a horizontal stift' plate and a vertical flexible plate in lixed connection therewith; an extension for said flexible plate longitudinally adjustable thereon, each end portion of said horizontal plate having parallel guide slots that slant upwardly from the corresponding outer end of said plate; an abdominal belt secured to said extension at the lower end thereof; an anchor member for each end of said plate guided in the slots thereof an adjustable leash connecting said anchor mem.

bers; and an axilla strap' for each of said anwith the guide thereof; an adjustable leash connecting said anchor member; and an axilla strap'adjustably connected with each anchor member. j

t. A clavicle splint consisting of a T-frame having a stiff cross plate and a flexible por-I tion constituting a prop; a-belt adapted to be l secured about the abdomen of the patient and having connection with the prop at the lower endv thereof whereby said frame is held from downward movement; sliding members on said frame, spaced apart and having guided movement on saidrplate so that when said members are moved toward each other, said members become correspondingly elevated respecting said frame; adjustable means for drawing said members toward each other;

` and axilla straps, one in connection with each of said members.

A clavicle splint consisting of a supporting frame having horizontal and vertical members, an abdominal belt attached to the lower end of said vertical member; oppositely disposed anchor members on said horizontal member spaced laterally apart and having guided movement on said frame so that when said anchor members are moved toward each other. they become correspondinglv elevated respecting the frame; means for drawing said anchor members adjustably toward each other; and. axilla straps, one in connection with each of said anchor members,

In testimony whereof I affix mv signature. 

